Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-26
RANCH LIFE OF GIRLS.
They Amusc Themselves shoot
ing Wolves.

They Amusc Themselves shoot
ing wolves.
"Oh, yes, was a cowboy for -four
years." said Mr.. A. B. Thomas, son
of Paymaster Thomas, of the Detroit,
Grand Haven and Milwaukee Rail
road. 81 went out there to look
around. was just Is, and had a
great fancy for western frontier life.
When | reached Northwestern Kan
sas, between the Solomon and Repub-
lican rivers, l happened to get on the
trail of herd of stock, and was in
vited to join the herders. l did so,
and for three or four days was the
sorest youngster that ever straddled a
horse. You see, they just live in the
saddle, and l was tenderfoot, or a
pork and beans pilgrim, as they call
eastern boys. But soon learned to
handle a revolver like the rest OF
them. Everybody carries a revolver.
One needs to defend himself from the
wild stock, and also to defend the
stock against wolves. Any wolves ?
Well, | should say so-both the big
grey wolf and the coyotes, which are
prairie wolves, small, but sneaky."
at isn't always the pleasantest
thing to take hand with wolf. The
first time, own up, l was little
scared. 1t happened this way-I was
with Cleveland girl-by the way,
the nerviest girl | ever saw. She had
been spending some time at the
ranch, and had ,arned to use re-
volver. We were on the prairie when
we saw two big grays standing in the
trail. Quick as chain lightning she
drew her revolver from her belt and
fred. The ball struck Mr.. Wolf in
the head, killing him instantly. She
was the least bit frightened, but
looked at it in the coolest way, and
said in the most matter-of-fact voice
possible. well, that was good shot,
wasn't it?' We got off our horses,
skinned the animal and took the hide
home for trophy. She has it now, l
presume. What become of the other ?
Oh, l killed him, but l enptied
several barrels, and riddled the skin
80 it was good for nothing"
81 also saw this lady in a roundup.
What's that? Well, it's when all the
herders or cowboys get together and
work up to a common center, fencing
in all the wild animals running loose
within certain radius, After they
were all in-perhaps 80 or 40 grays,
78 or 100 coyotes-then the fun COM
mences, riding 70 the center, firing
and killing the animals. The round
ups bring in all the boys from all
sections round, somewhere from 800
to 400. and you may believe there is
some lively firing. Well, as l said,
this young lady and friend of hers
Joined in one of these round-ups. They
were the only ladies in the run, and
were in charge of the boys of our
ranch. No more respect could be
shown them if they had been queens.
Every cowboy felt they were especially
in his care, and they were watched
and yet allowed to shoot to their
hearts content. and they did shoot in
great shape. One came out with
seven gray wolf scalps and six coyotes,
and the other four gray and ten
coyotes and a polecat. There is a
bounty on wolf seal ps-25 cents for
coyotes and 70 cents or 81 for grays-
80 the girls did pretty WE'LL"
"Who were the girls? Well, l
wouldn't like to give their names.
They are daughters of wealthy Cleve-
land gentlemen, prominent merchants,
and they might object. You see,
people Of the north know little OF the
cowboys of Kansas. They think they
are a lot of low-lived fellows, always
ready to shoot and scalp somebody,
whereas they are gentlemanly class
of boys. Many Of them are just from
college. They study themselves ill,
and go West to recuperate for health.
They get it, too, for they live in the
saddle, become expert shots, and
enter with zest into all outdoor
pursuits that one here cannot under
stand. hope to 60 back this fall,
see the boys and go over the old
stamping ground. l only came back,
as the boys say, to take slice of high